Susan Hotchkis studied at Manchester Metropolitan University where she earned a BA (Hons) in Embroidery and a Master Degree in Textiles. She then lectured at a college in Manchester teaching adults and pre-degree students Art and Textiles, whilst gaining a post-graduate certificate in teaching (P.G.C.E). Susan left teaching in 2007 and this has given her the freedom to pursue her passion for textile art full-time.

The core theme of Susan’s work is texture and surface, strongly influenced by the Japanese aesthetic of Wabi-Sabi.  She is interested in the relationship between the natural elements and the man-made, such as that resulting from erosion and human use. Constructing abstract forms ‘fragments’ to highlight the beauty found in the inherent processes of ageing and decay.

She has a strong interest in experimenting with materials and uses a variety of media, including photography, print and stitch. She works intuitively, with print and stitch, marks, textures and colours are exaggerated, intensified to reveal the detail and complexity within the images. Traditional materials are deconstructed, ripped, burnt and dyed and time is invested in their reconstruction, pieces can take from a week to several months to create. Whilst being aesthetically pleasing the work can also act as a metaphor for deterioration and ruin associated with urban decay and ultimately death and loss. They evolve organically, built up with layers; into three-dimensional abstract forms that hover between object and image to create a unique, visual and tactile landscape of form and texture. Challenging traditional understandings of the division between the visible and the unseen.

She has exhibited nationally and international and has undertaken private commissions as well as been included in several publications.  Most recently her work was juried intoThe 9^th Lausanne to Beijing International Fiber Art Biennial Shenzhen China, The World of Threads festival Ontario Canada and FiberArt International 2016,  among others.She was also selected for‘Excellence in Fibers’ in the Fiber Art Now’s Collectors edition Journal and exhibition.